Senior faces incumbent in Ky. House race

    At age 6, Corey McBee stayed up late to watch the 1992 presidential election results on television. At age 23, he decided to run for office.
    McBee (R) , senior from Murray, registered Jan. 25 to run for a seat in the Kentucky State House of Representatives, House District 5. He faces Melvin B. Henley (D), a 5-year seat holder and Murray business owner.
    If elected, McBee would be the youngest-ever Kentucky state representative, as he reaches the age minimum, 24, just 58 days before the Nov. 2 election.
    “I am young, it’s true, but I think I will bring a lot to the table as far as youth and energy,” he said.
    McBee said his choice to run is rooted in his basic beliefs in an ideal government.
    “I just felt that people needed a choice, I don’t feel democracy is well served when races are uncontested,” he said. “I feel I owe it to this county to offer opposition, and allow them to vote for someone else if they so choose.”
    Along with the need for a return to small government and conservative values, McBee said budget issues are at the forefront of his platform.
    “There are major budget issues in this state and we have to got to work like most households in this state do - we need to tighten our belts sometimes,” he said. “That means more hamburgers, less steak, and unfortunately, our politicians don’t seem to feel that way. This will push problems on future generations, and I don’t think that’s the way to run government.”
    Concerning his campaign budget, McBee said it is slow to start, but his core fundraisers are in place.       
    “I am really looking to the people - it is really easy for (candidates) to look to big groups and big businesses, but that’s not what I’m gong after, I want the support of the people,” he said. “I’m not looking to take money from lobbies, which is something a lot of people do right now, particularly the gambling lobbies, which is money I won’t accept.”
    McBee plans to graduate in May with a double major in public relations and political science, a degree combination he said he constructed to work in politics. He said, however, he always pictured himself as more of a campaign manager than a candidate until this opportunity arose.
    “The (Calloway County) Republicans were actively looking for a challenger this year, and no one was really stepping forward,” he said. “Essentially, I decided I would run the day before the deadline - I got my paperwork signed and notarized and made a mad dash to Frankfort to the Secretary of State’s Office.”
   McBee became involved with the Calloway County Republicans after Republican County Chairman Greg Delancey asked him to be the youth county chairman in September. He is also a member of the Murray State College Republicans and the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society.
    “We are proud of Corey McBee for stepping up to run in the upcoming Primary Election,” Delancey said via e-mail. “Corey is energetic, knowledgeable and brings a youthful approach to government that is fresh and new.  Corey is a native of Calloway County, having grown up through the local school systems and finishing his education at Murray State, and that makes me confident he has an awareness  on what Calloway County residents and for that matter, Trigg County needs. He’s conservative and he’s willing to lead.”
    Through his relationships with several political science professors, McBee said he gained the tools he needed to get where he is.
    “I’ve had some fantastic political science professors,” he said. “Winfield Rose is an amazing political theorist, Martin Battle was very instrumental in teaching me the interworkings of government and Ann Beck gave me the kick in the pants I needed to go out and get going.”
    After this encouragement, he said he had the confidence to run for office.
    Said McBee: “This is really a David versus Goliath story, but I remember how that story ended and I like my odds.”
    Contact Walters at mia.walters@murraystate.edu.